Fuse-lighter.



A. G. KULLBERG.

FUSE LIGHTER.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT. 25. m5.

1,185,916. Patented June6, 1916.

INVENTOR, WITNESS fir/m fill/Z? M BY 17 it 7K4,

' ATTORNEY 'D STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

ARTHUR G. KULLIBEBG, OF SAN FRANCISCO,'CALIFOBNIA, ASSIGHOB T0 SAMUEL ALLEN GUIBEBSON, .11., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FUSE-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. KULpnnRo,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuse- Lighters, of which the following is a speclfication. Y My invention relates to the class of fuselighters, and has for its object the provision of a means for easily and positively ignlting the end of a powder-train fuse of the type commonly employed for setting off explosives.

Such fuses are notoriously difficult to ignite, especially when in exposed and damp places. Heretofore it has been customary for the operator to split the end of the fuse, thereby exposing as much of the powder train as possible, and then ignite the powder thus exposed by the flame of a match, candle or other similar object. In this process it is necessary to hold the fuse with its end downward, in order that the flame of the candle may reach the powder-train. In so doing, however, the powder is exceedingly apt to spill out of the split, inverted end of the fuse, thus destroying the effect of the s litting. Moreover, on account of these di culties, it is very hard to successfully ignite more than one fuse at a time with one candle; or if this beattempted great danger results from the uncertainty of all being lighted.

My invention, therefore, contemplates a fuse lighter, which may be quickly applied to the end of a fuse, which may be very readily ignited, and which will speedily and positively convey the flame to the powder train of the fuse.

In order to fully understand my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my fuselighter as applied to the end of a fuse. Fig. 2 is a sectional View, enlarged, of my lighter, showing its construction and the disposition of the inflammable material within it.

1 is a full-open-ended shell, preferably constructed of some relatively soft metal such as brass or copper, and adapted to fit over the end of the ordinary type of fuse 2, and to be retained in such position, if necessary, by being flattened or crimped, as at 3. This shell 1 is filled at that end which is to receive the initial ignition, say, for about a! third of its length, with an inflammable material 4, said inflammable material in its best form being composed of three parts, by

weight, of potassium chlorate and one part of sugar. These materials are first mixed dry, and then suflicient water is added to make a plastic mass, which is put into I the shell 1 and allowed to dry and harden.

The end of the shell 1 containing the inflammable material 4 is coated with an inflammable, moisture proof, protective covering 5, preferably by being dipped in a solution of celluloid in some suitable solvent, as, for example, ether. The inflammable material 4 is wholly housed within the shell and its outer end lies flush with the end of the shell. The protecting coating 5 lies around the outer surface of this end of the shell and traverses said end and covers the end of the inflammable material.

When it is desired to use my fuse-lighter, the shell 1 is slipped over the end of the fuse 2, and crimped thereon, as before stated. The inflammable water-proof coating 5 is then ignited in any convenient manner, and by its combustion ignites the in- ,flammable material 4, which burns vigorously and at first shoots a decided jet or tongue of flame outwardly into the bpen air. But as combustion progresses through the inflammable material 4, the accumulation of residue at the outer end of the shell 1 chokes said end, and then the large volume of gas generated in the confined space of the interior of the burning mass breaks through said mass inwardly and causes a pronounced jet of flame to shoot inwardly toward the end of the fuse 2, and to thus ignite the powder train 2' within said fuse.

On account of the relatively large surface and the highly inflammable nature of the moisture-proof coating 5, it is very easily ignited; and if it be desired to light more than one fuse at one time, all may be readily ignited by grouping all the lighters together with their free ends approximately in the same plane. Moreover, the combustion of the inflammable material 4 is so vigorous, though not explosive, and the inwardly shooting flame jet is so pronounced and direct that the powder train 2' of the fuse 2 is positively ignited even though an air s ace 6, Fig. 2, may intervene bGtWGGL sai inflammable material and said fuse.

I claim 1. A fuse-lighter comprising a metallic shell with full-open ends, said shell being adapted to receive the fuse; an inflammable material wholly housed within the shell at that end to which initial ignition is to be applied, the outer end of the material lying substantially flush with said end of the shell; and a moisture-proof inflammable coating around the outer surface of the shell at said end, said coating also traversing said end and the end of the inflammable material.

2. A fuse-lighter comprising a metallic shell with full-open ends, said shell being adapted to receive the fuse; an inflammable material composed of a mixture of potassium chlorate and sugar wholly housed within the shell at that end to which initial ignition is to be applied, the outer end of the material lying substantially flush with said end of the shell; and a moisture-proof inflammable coating around the outer surface of the shell at said end, said coating also traversing said end and the end of the inflammable material.

3. In a fuse-lighter having a metallic shell with full-open ends and adapted at one end to receive the fuse, an inflammable mixture of three parts by weight of potassium chlorate and one part by weight of sugar housed within the other end of the shell; and a moisture-proof inflammable protecting coating of celluloid covering said last named end of the shell.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR G. KULLBERG.

Witnesses:

WM. F. BOOTH, D. B. RICHARDS. 

